Fire extinguisher



Patented July 5, 1927.

UNI-TED STATES 1,634,976 PATENT oFFiee.

GEORGE W. BURKE, JR., OF DAYTON, OHIO. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO

BATTLE-FYRE COMPANY.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Application tiled January 25, 1924. Serial No. 688,480.

This invention relates lo tire extinguishers of the pistol type,designed and intended particularly for use ou aircraft.. hut o l' coursecapable of use generally, \\'hcrever it is desirable or necessary thatthe u-eer be able to operate the sinne with one hand as in the case olthe aviator who must control the plane while lighting a lire.

The present invention luis reference to iinproveincnts in details in thetype of' extinguisher shown in Burke apl'ilication, ber. #593,()ll,filed October 7, 1922, whereby a fool-proof, positive and (puck-actingdevice of the character mentioned is provided.

Among other things, the invention provides a lire extinguisher operatingwithpressure provided by compressed gas cartridges, special means beingprovided to facilitate the insertion and removal of the cartridges, thestorage of 'reserve cartridges on the device where they will beavailable at once, iinproved means' for facilitating proper filling ofextinguishing fluid in the container, and improved means for feeding thefluid to the discharge opening under pressure to give a steady1 streamto play upon the lire.

The above and other objects of the invention willbe inade to appear moreclearly as the following detailed description advances, in whichreference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating inloiigitudinal section the invention.

The extinguisher comprises a container 10, preferably, although notnecessarily, cylindrical in form, and of dimensions to contain asufficient quantity of extinguishinofluid to comply with underwritersrequirements in the particular field in which the device is to be used.In the present instance where the device is to be operated on airplanes,the container is large enough to hold one quart. A pistol grip 11extends from the container between the ends thereof and has a band 12passing about the container. The location of the grip is such that thedevice is evenly balanced, and can be aimed steadily and withoutappreciable etfort when' held with one hand. The con tainer is filledwith a suitable extinguishing fluid as for example, carbontetrachloride, although I contemplate the use of the device operatingwith water. lV here water is used, a very effective extinguishing fluidis provided when the water is carbonated by the C()2 gas from thecartridge 13. The eartridge 13 is of metal and filled with compressedgas and has a rupturable cap in the tip thereof to allow the gas toescape when it is to be used. The cartridge in this case provides thepressure fluid for the dual purpose of expelling the extinguishingfluid, in this case water, and going' into solution in the water to givethe saine combustion-retarding or sinothering properties. The containeris filled through an opening 14 in one end, the opening being providedin a bushing 15 internallyv screwthreaded to receive a plug 16. Thebushing supports a tube 17 extending inwardly a predetermined distancefroin the opening 1l so that when the container is filled up to thelevel of the lower end of the tube 17, it being understood that infilling, the device is held witlrthe container vertical and the refillopening on top, there is afforded an expansion chamber of properdimensions in the container to insure the proper operation of the devicewhen the compressed gas from the cartridge is admitted. The tube 17therefore serves as a well or sight tube.

lt is contemplated, and in accordance with underwriters requirements,torefill the gun after each use thereof and to equip the saine with anew cartridge. It has been found that a cartridge affords so muchpressure ordinarily that even after all of the extinguishing fluid hasbeen expelled, there is a certain amount of residual pressure. To

avoid the likelihood of injury by a fine spray of extinguishing fluidbeing thrown into the eyes of the operator oi' an observer, whenrelieving this pressure in the container preparatory to refilling it., apair of bleeder holes 18 are provided communicating between the refillopening 1l and the expansion chainber above the bottom of the tube 17.the plug 1G is given a few turns toward removing t, thepressure leaks bythe threads gradually and by the time the plug is removed entirely,there is practically no pressure remaining in the container. rIbisprovision is important not so much where the container is empty as wherethere remains a certain amount of extinguishing fluid` since in thelatter case, if the plug were removed without dissipating the pressure,there would be a discharge of extinguishing fluid which would almostcertainly result in injury. lt is of course necessary to remove the plugto refill the container and this may be safely Then done after thepressure in the container has been relieved in the inanncr described.

V.The compressed gas cartridge lll is contained within a breech socketlf) in hack of the pistol grip ll directly beneath tln` container 10.This socket communicaicsl through an opening 2O in a hollow guide :larid through a second opening :13 in the guide 2l with a chamber 2li ina tilting di having a part connected thereto and .scaled in thecontainer wall. A Yalve 5 controls coinmunication between the socketl.)and the inside of the container' ll). r[he valve 25 seats outwardly inthe end ol a hollow plug 26 under the tension ol a spring 2T actingagainst a spider lixed to the inner end ot the stein of the valve 25,the spider being guided in the tubular bore ot' the plug 2li, as shown.The guide 2l is openV at the iront to admit a tiring pin 28 and has aplug 29 threading therein, in which the pin 2S is arranged to move. Adisk 3l) rigid on the pin 2b has a compression spring :il bearingagainst it and the inner end ot the guide 2l about the open ing Q()normally to hold the pin 2S out so that the outer end thereo't projectsa sub- Stantial distance through the plug` 29 for engageinent by a smalldog 32. The plug 29 is hollow to receive packing material, as shown, thepacking being held by a gland 33 against which the disc 30 abutsnormally. In this way, it is insured there will be no leakage of thecompressed gas when the rupturable cap in the tip of the cartridge 13 ispunctured by the pointed end ot' the pin 28.

eThe cartridges 13, it will be noted, have reduced necks 311- which areembraced by a coiled compression spring 35 inside the socket 19 when thecartridge is inserted in the socket and the plug 3o' threaded to back upthe cartridge and seal the socket against leakage of pressure. rlhespring 35 is coinpressed upon the inward movement ot the cartridge sothat when the plug 3G is removed, when it becomes necessary to replacethe used cartridge with a new cartridge, the old cartridge is expelledand there is no dil"- tieulty as would otherwise be the case. to extractthe cartridge. eserve cartridges are conveniently carried in the hollowpistol grip 11 in a socket 3T opening lrom the bottoni ot the grip. Aweb 3S inside the grip has openings 3S) to receive the necks 3l of twoor more cartridges. A, slide :l0 held vin under-cut grooves Lll in thebottom ot the grip 1l is provided lo retain the cartridges. A, raisedportion Yl2 on the slide -lll provides a thumb grip to more the slideinto and out o' place.

- rl'he cartridge 1?; in the breech socket 19 is punctured at the timethe extinguisher is to be used in putting out a lire by the pulling ol atrigger' i3 pivoted at Ail in the grip ll. For safety a guard Ll5 isprovided extending around the trigger so that nothing can engage 'thesaine and accidentally cause the actuation thereof. The trigger operatesin the Vlorked end ot a metering pin or valve "le which controls thedischarge ot' extinguishing lluid from the nozzle l? under the loiwvardend of the container lO. The pin ll is normally held closed by a spring4S acting between a cross pin elf) on the pin lll and a gland 50 infront ot the plug 5l threaded into the open rear end ot the nozzlecasing 52. The pin t6 is packed at the gland 5() by packing materialheld in a hol low portion ot' the plug 5l. ln pulling the trigger, thedog 32 which is pivoted at 53, in the end ot the pin #lli is 'forcedagainst the protruding end ot the tiring pin 28, thereby puncturing thecap in the tip of the cartridge 13 in the socket 1S). The dogg`- 32 isnormally held in the position shown by a spring oel and is arranged atthe limit ot' depression of the trigger to be moved oit the end ot' thepin 2S by a projection i3 on the trigger to allow the pin 28 to beexpelled to its protruding position shown, where it permits the freeegress of the compressed gas from the cartridge to the container.

The nozzle 4T communicates through a. series of ducts and passages shownwith a feed pipe inside the container lt), supported at its forward endin a fitting 5G in the wall ot the container connected with the nozzlecasing 52. rl`he tube 55 is open at both ends and has spherically facedvalves 5i' and 5S for controlling` the ends thereof. These valves areconnected by a rod 52) extending lengthwise ot' the tube to close onevalve when opening the other, and vice versa. 'the valve 5T slides in atube et) held on the projecting end ot the pipe 55 and having ports (3lin the wall thercotl to vadmit extinguishing fluid to by-pass the valvewhen the valve is open to tlow into the pipe and from thence to thenozzle i7. 'l'he valve 58 slides in a cylindrical bore in a coupling onthe rear end ot pipe 55. lt. controls the admission of luid to the pipe55 tlufmgh a port G3 communicating with a 'llcxiliiic metallic ho.e (ilon the coupling (3:3. '.lfhe trec end ot the hose o-l is open andarranged lll() to have universal movement about the conpling inside thecontainer, and has a weight (35 thereon to insure the movement ot thelrce end otl the tube to the lowest elevation. no mattei' in whatposition the ,-ontaincr may be held in operation. l'hc leed pipe 55, ithas been found, tuut-tions best mound-l inclined to the lower wall olthe container il) with the. rear end thereof al a higher cicvation thanthe toi-ward end. 'this is duc to the lact, that the inlei-connectedvulvesA 5T and 58 slide l'rom open to closed iliosilios. and the deviceis ordinarily held horizontal or nearly so in sighting along the barrelcom tainer so that the valves would otherwise flutter it not tending toassumo a normal position with the valve v5T open,v Flinn-ring ol." thevalves seriously aitnt'tc tto ontcient operation as it permits leakageot' pressure and the extinguishing tlnid is 'too-ed out in slugs and notin a continuons stream.

The operation ot' the device is ncccssarilv apparent trom the, foregoingdescription since all of the details have tim-n described i'nore or lessin relation to the use ot' the dc- ViCe. It is understood that thedevice is carried on the wall ot the fuselage ordinarily on the outsidein a suitable holder where it is within (':onvcnient reach ot' theaviator to be removed and used io the event the plane takes tire inflight. 'l'he device is so constructed and proportioned that the aviatormay readily operate the same with one hand while controlling the planewith the other. Since the device is capable ot sending a stream withease to the 'tarthermost portions of the plane, a lire starting anywheremay be readily taken care ot by the pilot. while in flight, and it isnot necessary that morey than one extinguisher be provided on a ship onaccount oit' a likelihood that the amount ot fluid in one would not besul'iicientto cope with a lire. It is contemplated to retill theextinguisher with extinguishing fluid after it has been used and toreplace the used cartridge. For this purpose, it is convenient to carrya reserve supply of cartridges on the device as in the pistol grip wherethey will be readily available. In the event other extinguishing fluidis not available, the device may very 'readily be illed with water andwill function quite satisfactorily particularly if the cartridges usedcontain compressed CO2.

I claim:

1. In a pistol type fire extinguisherr` a barrel-like container forextinguishing fluid under pressure, a controlled outlet at the :torwardend ot said container, a feed pipe extending longitudinally within saidcontainer and communicating with said outlet at its front end and havingits rear end spaced farther from the wall of the container than theiront end, said pipe having a liront intake and a rear intake port,interconnected valves controlling said intake ports, and a universallymovable intake tube for the rear intake port ot said feed pipe.

2. In a pistol type fire extinguisher, a barrel container forextinguishing fluid, a pistol grip supporting said container, a triggermechanism in t'ront of said pistol grip, ar breech socket having aremovable plug, and a cartridge to be received in said socket containingcompressed gas for expelling the extinmiishinglluid from said containerupon the operation ot said trigger mechanism.

3. In a pistol type tire extinguisher. a barrel container forextinguishing fluid, a pistol grip supporting said container, a trigger`mechanism in front of said pistol grip, a

hrt-ech socket having a removable plug, a t-imrtdge to be received insaid socket containing compressed gas -for expelling the. extinguishingfluid from said container upon thdoperation of said trigger mechanism,and :l ,socket in said pistol grip Jfor receiving a reserve cartridge olf compressed gas.

el. In a pistol type tire extinguisher, a barrel container torextinguishing tluid, a pistol grip supporting said container having atrigger mechanism in l'ront thereof, a nozzle communicating with saidcontainer in front ot said trigger mechanism. a valve controlling saidnozzle connected willi said triggt-r mechanism to be opened upon thedepr ssion ot' the latter, a breech socket hehind said triggermeclnlnism eonununicating with said. container, and a rupturableconrpressed gas cartridge in said socket to be pun .tured upon thedepression ot said trigger mechanisn'i to admit the compressed gas tosaid container to expel the extinguishing tluid therefrom through saidnozzle.

In a pistol type fire. extinguisher, a barrel container forextinguishing fluid, a

pistol grip supporting said container havinga trigger mechanism in frontthereof', a nozzle communicating with said container in front of saidtrigger mechanism, a valve. controlling said nozzle connected with saidtrigger mechanism to be opened upon depression ot the latter, a breechsocket behind saidl iriggfcr mechanism communicating with saidcontainer, a rupturable compressed gas cartridge in said socket to bepunctured upon depression of said trigger mechanism to admit thecompressed gas to said container to expel the extinguishing fluidtherefrom through said nozzle, and a socket in the bottom ot' saidpistol grip having a removal closure for receiving av reserve supply ot'cartridges.

6. In a fire extinguisher, a container for extinguishing fluid, a pistolgrip on the underside of said container, a trigger in front ot saidgrip, a nozzle at the front end ot' said container having a valveconnected to said trigger to be opened upon the depression of' thelatter, a cartridge socket behind said trigger having a firing` pin tobe fired upon the depression of said trigger to re lease the pressurecontained within a cartridge in said socket, to expel the fluid fromsaid container, and a member operated b v said trigger to engage saidtiring pin in the course or the depression of said trigger to lire thecartridge but movable oli the pin a t'ter the firing of the cartridgewhile the trigger remains depressed.

T. ln a pistol type lire extinguisher having a barrel containing.extinguishing tluid, a pistol grip holder therefor extending laterallyfrom the side ot the container, means including a replaceable compressedgas cartridge for discharging the fluid from said container underpressure. and means controlled hy the hand which holds the grip whileholding said grip and direct ing the extinguishcr for firingthe'carlridge and controlling the discharge from saidvlairrcl.

8. In a piston type lire extinguisher, a barrel containing extinguishingtluid, means ldllding f replaceable compressed gas cartridge fordischarging the lluid from Said container under pressure, and a pistolgrip holder for said container, said pistol grip having a storagechamber therein for the reception of reserve cartridges.

9. 1n a pistol type lire extinguisher, a harrel container forextinguishing fluid, a pistol grip therefor, a discharge nozzle towardthe forward end of said barrel in front of said pistol grip, a cartridgearranged to discharge into said container to supply the pressure forexpelling the tluid therefrom, a trigger in front of said pistoll grip,a valve extending forwardly from the trigger for controlling thedischarge froin said nozzle, spring means normally holding said valveclosed and said trigger cocked, and a firing pin operated by the pullingof said trigger to discharge said cartridge into said container.

10. ln a pistol type fire extinguisher, a barrel container forextinguishing fluid, a pistol grip therefor, a discharge nozzle for theforward end of said barrel in front of said pistol grip, a trigger linfront of said pistol grip, a Valve extending forwardly from said triggerfor controlling the discharge from said nozzle, spring means normallyholding said valve closed with the trigger cocked, a cartridge arrangedto discharge into said container and supply the pressure for expellingthe extinguishing fluid therefrom through said nozzle, a firing pin forsaid cartridge, spring means nornially holding the saine away from saidcartridge toward the back of said trigger,

and means on the trigger for engaging said pin to tire said cartridge,while at the saine time opening said valve to permit the discharge ofextinguishing fluid from said nozzle.

11. In a pistol type tire extinguisher, a barrel container forextinguishing fluid, a pistol grip therefor, a discharge nozzle towardthe forward end of said container in front of said pistol grip, atrigger in front of said pistol grip, a valve connected therewith andextending forwardly to said discharge nozzle to control the discharge ofextinguishing llnid therefrom, spring means normally holding said valveclosed with the trigger in cocked position, a cartridge mounted behindthe trigger and arranged to discharge into said container to suppl)v thepressure for expelling the extinguishing fluid therefrom through saidnozzle, a tiring pin for said cartridge, spring nieans normally holdingthe saine away froni said cartridge toward the back of said trigger, anda member on said trigger normally engaging the end of said firing pinarranged to depress the saine when the trigger is pulled but to ride offat one point of the stroke of the trigger to permit the pin to recedefrom said cartridge under the action of its spring means.

l2. In a lire extinguisher, a portable barrel like container forextinguishing fluid under pressure, a fitting in the wall of thecontainer having a controlled outlet therefor, a feed pipe connected tosaid fitting and extending from a point at one end vof the containerclose to the wall thereof to a point at substantially the center ofthecontainer and farther away from the wall than said first nained point,an intake port at each end of the feed pipe, interconnected valves toclose one of the intake ports while the other port remains open, and a:flexible tube con nected at one end to the intake port which is atsubstantially the center of the container, andA having a weighted freeend capable of moving universally about to always assume the lowestlevel in the container.

In testimony whereof I atlx niy signature.

GEORGE lV. BURKE, JR.

